We always debate the availability of jobs for new immigrants and how they are treated in this country, specifically in the GTA. Following report could be an eye opener for some of us, it gives you almost real picture of the harsh reality immigrants are facing in the GTA. There is no doubt that GTA is the growth engine of Canada but don’t forget that there is Canada beyond GTA too.

Thanks and regards.
Biomed
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Job crisis hurting families: ReportYoung poor seen as most in needMayor urged to hold a summit

LAURIE MONSEBRAATEN
FEATURE WRITER

The lack of "good jobs" in Toronto is pushing more young families into poverty, debt and despair, says a new report to be released today.

And a disproportionate number of poor families with parents younger than 35 are visible minorities, recent immigrants and aboriginals, says the study co-sponsored by Toronto's Family Service Association and Community Social Planning Council.

It calls on Mayor David Miller to convene a summit on good jobs so that government, business, labour and the voluntary sector can begin to address this troubling trend that threatens the economic and social health of the city.

"The Ontario economy has been growing strongly since the mid-1990s. Yet disadvantage among young families in Toronto is spreading and becoming entrenched," says the study, entitled "Failing Fortunes: The Status of Young Families in Toronto."

Although the number of two-income families in Toronto increased through the 1980s and 1990s, poverty rates for young couples with children have jumped to 26 per cent from 19.6 per cent in 1991, the report says.

Olivia Goguen, 29, her husband Peter, 34, and their daughter Karis, 7, are an example of how visible-minority and aboriginal families in the city are struggling.

Goguen is of mixed heritage — her father is black and her mother is Acadian-Mi'kmaq. Peter, who grew up on an Indian reserve in B.C., is among the growing number of urban aboriginals in Toronto.

Living at the edge of the old city of York, Goguen has had a string of administrative jobs she lost due to downsizing. Now she's working part-time and studying to become a woodworker.

Peter was enrolled in a two-year college business program when the couple was married four years ago, but he had to drop out because he ran out of money. He has a contract position with the federal government, but without full benefits, the family struggles to pay medical bills.

"We don't have RSPs and we don't have an education savings fund for Karis," she adds. "It's tight."

Good jobs — ones that pay decent wages and provide benefits like sick pay, dental, vision and drug coverage, and that are accessible to young parents and recent immigrants — are becoming increasingly rare in Toronto, the report says, noting: "Improving the life chances of young families must begin with better opportunities for good employment."

Those good jobs have been replaced by part-time and contract work that provides few benefits and little job security. Since these non-standard jobs aren't covered by federal employment insurance, more workers are forced to rely on welfare between contract positions.

"The federal government has abandoned the unemployed in this city. And once you are on welfare, it's a tough slog," said Pedro Barata, of the family service association.

The study, which used 2001 census data, shows that 38.1 per cent of young families in Toronto are poor, up from 33.5 per cent in 1991 and 24.4 per cent two decades ago.

The depth of family poverty regardless of parents' age or ethnicity grew more in Toronto than elsewhere in Ontario or Canada over the past two decades. Twenty years ago, these families had incomes that fell on average $8,850 below Statistics Canada's low-income cut-offs, the country's unofficial poverty line. But now they would need an average of $15,000 to even meet it, the study says.

In Toronto, a family of four was considered poor if its income was less than $34,572 in 2000 when the census data was collected; for a family of two, it was $22,964.

"If young families were ever going to make economic headway, now would have been the time. But what we found was the opposite," said Barata. "It is a very troubling trend, particularly when you consider the impact of poverty on children growing up in these families."

And it raises doubts about how well equipped this new generation will be to support the country's aging population and the huge numbers of baby boomers about to retire.

Barata is also worried by the study's findings on the falling economic status of immigrant and visible minority families, a problem reflected in recent reports by the United Way and Statistics Canada.

Although visible minorities make up just half of all Toronto families with children, more than 70 per cent of them are poor.

The report, funded by the Atkinson Charitable Foundation and the United Way is a follow-up to a study released 10 years ago using 1981 and 1991 census information. The yearlong study included focus groups with young families and consultations with community workers, social service administrators and academics.

It renews previous calls for increased government and community support to families including more affordable housing and subsidized child care, higher welfare payments and better employment insurance coverage. But the report's authors believe the focus now should be on the labour market and that the city must play a leadership role.

"Until somebody like the mayor begins to look at this issue, we're not going to make any significant headway," Barata said. "It needs some political momentum."

The agencies hope the summit will prompt Miller to establish a mayor's task force on good jobs that would study employment in Toronto. The city already promotes good jobs by requiring all companies doing business with the municipality to pay fair wages and uphold access and equity standards, the report notes. But Toronto must build on its success by encouraging other levels of government, the voluntary sector and private business to adopt similar policies, it adds.

The United Way identified some 160,000 Toronto children under age 13 living in poor neighbourhoods last spring. President Frances Lankin believes it's crucial to the future of the city to help their parents find good jobs.

"Those kids are going to be teenagers soon. And they're going to be teenagers who are isolated, angry and without hope," she said yesterday. "If we think we are seeing an increase in violence and use of drugs now, the next wave coming along will change the face of our city completely in terms of our sense of health and well-being and hope for safe neighbourhoods."

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

yes,

I also feel we should flee away from this country as it is not a land of opportunitiy but it is land of labours and poverty in coming years..believ me.

HI,

We are from developing counties like India, Pakistan and Shri Lanka, but nobody has any difficulties to pay their University fees during their study, whatever the family income is but anybody can study upto top level, Even anybody can bear the fees of Medical collage and here you cant believe it, Government think about the private university only, how that university can earn more money and never think about citizen of Canada's graduation and post gratuation education.

Why Governemnt is not sponsor or open any university for poor student?
If Governement open 30 to 50 University (incl Medical) then Canada has no sortage of Doctors? But no Government think only for Loby of private University.

Education is basic need and here government provide you and prepare you for just Labour works.

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Kap

Biomed,

Very interesring.

I would like to know when and Where the Meeting called by David Miller is taking place and if general public can attend.

"Those good jobs have been replaced by part-time and contract work that provides few benefits and little job security. Since these non-standard jobs aren't covered by federal employment insurance, more workers are forced to rely on welfare between contract positions."

This is a very disturbing trend.

Companies are basically doing away with hiring any people, even as what they call temp-permanent (which would include at least some benefits + vacation) and off loading the task to temp agencies. Which means no holidays, no benefits of any kind whatsoever. This is the cas ewhere I work.

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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.

Its true that a lot of govt Jobs require to be citizen of Canada and many require mone to be multi lingual, but not so with Private jobs especially in GTA area. SO what is stopping private cos from hiring immigrants for any type of office Job (forget about job in ones own field).

I believe the Private Industry leaders need to look at this. Once the order comes from top it will be followed. The culture will change. till then you will get "evasive" and "canadian experience" type of questions at interviews....

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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.

Quote:

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Orginally posted by mercury6


Companies are basically doing away with hiring any people, even as what they call temp-permanent (which would include at least some benefits + vacation) and off loading the task to temp agencies. Which means no holidays, no benefits of any kind whatsoever. This is the cas ewhere I work.

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch